Fife Council’s Executive Member for Business, Enterprise, Economy & Planning remains optimistic about the region’s development in 2013.

Councillor Kay Carrington has released a statement detailing her hopes for investment in energy and construction in the New Year.

She said: "Our success in attracting major new projects in recent years has been remarkable, as we have private sector investment projects totalling almost £0.5bn on site being built in Fife at the end of 2012.

"The energy and renewables sector will be one of the growth areas for Fife over the coming ten years. Positive news from Bifab about major orders from the oil and Gas industry was a welcomed highlight of 2012, and investment by RWE/ Tullis Russell and Diageo in renewable energy plants which both created a civil engineering boom with over £300m investment between these two projects, and have safeguarded the manufacturing jobs for staff at both sites."

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She added: "Looking to the future, we hope that the Samsung Offshore Wind Demonstrator Project will be given the go ahead by the Scottish Government over the coming weeks. Although this will be a major change in the Fife skyline for the five year period of the consent, we hope that this will lead to a much needed manufacturing jobs in Methil in the medium term.

"The Council's investment at Energy Park Fife continues to attract potential manufacturers, and we hope that these will lead to commitments once clarity around delivery of the Offshore Wind Farms is achieved at UK Government level.

"I am delighted that the Fife Renewables Innovation Centre has been so successful in attracting tenants even before the official opening scheduled in 2013. We are well ahead of our first year targets for attracting tenants, and the Centre is already home to six companies with major announcements due over the next month."

Councillor Carrington concluded: "I have great optimism for 2013 and the future of Fife’s economy and we will continue to strive throughout the year to make Fife the easiest place to do Business."

(IT/GK)